GWS 2018 AFL season preview: Giants are no certainty for top four
NO one questions the talent at GWS. However, the Giants are exceptional individuals but not yet an exceptional team and DAVID KING wonders if they have the resolve to do what it takes to win the flag.
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IT’S time for the national draft class of 2012 to become hardened, ruthless men who control their own destiny, particularly at the pointy end of the season.
As the seasons go by, it’s starting to become a point of discussion about if Greater Western Sydney will actually win a premiership, not when or how many.
It is an awesome stoppage team, averaging seven more clearances than its opposition, which is not only the best in the league but by a huge margin.
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Collingwood is the second best, averaging two more than their rivals.
The frightening dominance is led by Callan Ward and Dylan Shiel, who are ranked second and fourth overall for clearances.
The Giants are also the purest ball movers in the competition, which is a significant asset in an AFL era in which territory is king. Give them the ball and you bleed.
In 2017 the Giants were too tall. Leon Cameron’s penchant for three talls in his forward 50 was an error as opposition teams walked the ball out of their forward line.
Richmond won the flag with 50 per cent of the talent the Giants possess, but by pressuring every play.
The Giants are 11th in the league at forcing turnovers in their forward half, Richmond is No.1. It’s not a talent issue at GWS.
The bottom line is the Giants play only two of the three phases of football.
They’re the best in the AFL at winning possession (dispute), and moving the football (when we have it) but horrendous at denying opposition movement and pressure (when they have it).
GWS was decimated by injury last season, and clearly had the largest toll and games missed by their best 22 players in the competition.
Considerable list alterations from last season will challenge that depth again in 2018.
The Giants were always going to lose elite level talent annually via trades as the club had extreme concessions that were designed to water down their advantages year on year.
But are they purging too many? It may not entirely be their fault, but Devon Smith, Matthew Kennedy and Nathan Wilson all left.
Not a lot would have to go wrong for the Giants to miss the top four this season, given the potential improvement of other teams around the mark.
It may sound crazy, but if percentage is the game’s best indicator, the Giants finished with 114.8 per cent last season, ranked sixth, in a year all thought was theirs for the taking.
The Giants are exceptional individuals but not yet an exceptional team.
Time will tell.
I predict they have 12-14 wins, as per last season, but I can’t put them in my top four.
ROBBO’S TACKLE
WHAT I LIKE
Midfield talent. Ball movement. Key forwards. They possess many traits of a successful team, but haven’t been able to go past the preliminary final in the past two years. Hopefully will get a better run with injuries than what they endured in 2017. Rory Lobb will ruck, meaning Jonathon Patton and Jeremy Cameron can have more space forward. And if the Suns’ Tommy Lynch is worth close to $2 million as a tall, then the Giants have a million-dollar mid-size in Toby Greene. Keeping Josh Kelly was lucky for them, while Ryan Griffen (pictured) returns. They will be in it up to their eyeballs this season.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
Nathan Wilson (traded) and Zac Williams (ACL) create issues at half-back because they are two quality ball carriers, and you’d have to think they will play Brett Deledio back as one of the replacements. Those two losses hurt them badly. Depth has been queried, but if Deledio and Griffen get their bodies right, they can add plenty. But it’s a big if. Lost three of their last four matches last year (Geelong, Adelaide, Richmond), but they were cooked by then. People are keen to put the spotlight on coach Leon Cameron, but look forward to seeing him with close to a full list for much of the season.
VERDICT
Bottom half of eight
Originally published as GWS 2018 AFL season preview: Giants are no certainty for top four